US KUO SHU ACADEMY - Key Persons
Master Chisholm is a 65th Generation student of Tien Shan Pai and a direct disciple of Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang. He started his training with Grandmaster Huang in 1989 and, under Grandmaster Huang's supervision, has studied traditional Tien Shan Pai, including lei tai fighting, Qi Gong, Nei Gong, tie sha zhang (iron palm), cao long zhuang (grass dragon pole), and Qin Na, as well as Yang Style Tai Ji Quan.
Master Chisholm is a 3rd degree Black Sash in Tien Shan Pai under Grandmaster Huang and a 4th degree Black Sash under the certification standards of The World Kuoshu Federation (TWKSF). He is also an internationally certified level B referee. Master Chisholm served as Director for the 2005 United States Chinese Kuoshu Federation (USCKF) International Tournament and as Assistant Director for the USCKF tournaments in 1999 and 2001 through 2004. He has also been the United States Kuo Shu Federation (USKSF) Secretary General since 2007.
Master Chisholm was a member of the United States national team at the 7th and 8th World Kuoshu Championship tournaments, held in Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. in 1992 and 1996. In 1992, at the 7th World Kuoshu Championships, he won 1st place in empty hand two person sets and 3rd place in weapon two person sets. In 1996, at the 8th World Kuoshu Championships, he won 1st place in empty hand two person sets and 2nd place in weapon two person sets. Master Chisholm received the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame's "Outstanding Achievement of the Year" award with his induction into the hall in 1992 following his championship title in Taiwan. Master Chisholm has competed, demonstrated, and judged at events in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He has also been a member of several Tien Shan Pai demonstration teams which raised funds for September 11th relief efforts, the Maryland Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the St. Jude Children's Research Center, and The Children's Home. Master Chisholm's efforts to help promote Chinese Kuoshu and Tien Shan Pai have been recognized by citations from Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith, in addition to Inside Kung-Fu magazine, Action Martial Arts Magazine's Hall of Fame awards, and the Owings Mills Times.
As a sixteen year public school teacher, Master Chisholm was also named Baltimore County's Elementary Educator of the Year in 2003. He feels privileged and honored to be a student of Grandmaster Huang and strives to propagate Tien Shan Pai and help pass the torch to the next generation at the US Kuoshu Academy.
Job Titles:
- Member of the 2009 US National Team
Shi Fu Gafos is a 65th Generation student of Tien Shan Pai under the tutelage of Grandmaster Huang. He started his training under Grandmaster Huang in 2002, after previously studying under a direct disciple of Grandmaster Huang. He is a 2nd degree Black Sash in Tien Shan Pai and has served as a Judge in multiple United States Kuo Shu Federation (USKSF) International Tournaments.
As a member of the 2009 US National Team, Shi Fu Gafos competed at the USKSF World Kuo Shu Tournament in Ulm, Germany. As a World Champion, Shi Fu Gafos received a gold and bronze medal in empty-hand and weapon forms, respectively.
Shi Fu Gafos is a graduate of Towson University in Maryland with a Bachelor's in Sociology and Anthropology and completed graduate courses at Life University in Georgia. He works as a Health and Informatics Analyst at a health and wellness provider in Hunt Valley, Maryland.
Shi Fu Gafos has been tenacious as both a Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) student and a practitioner of Tien Shan Pai. In addition, Shi Fu Gafos has assisted and trained with the Lei Tai Team for national and international tournaments. With the internal and external arts, he aspires to perfect his form and application of his techniques.
Shi Fu Hesser has been a student of Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang since 1999 and has been studying Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan), Ba Qua Zhang and Xing Yi Quan since 1995. He is a 1st degree Black Sash under the certification standards of The World Kuo Shu Federation (TWKSF).
A successful competitor for years on national and international levels, Shi Fu Hesser is a national form and push hands champion and was the 2009 Internal Competitor of the Year at the U.S. International Kuo Shu Championship, and was a nominee for the award again in 2010.
An artist and art educator, Shi Fu Hesser earned a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Towson University and a Master of Arts in Art Education from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Shi Fu Hesser is interested in the study, application, and promotion of the internal arts, especially Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) and Daoist meditation, as a comprehensive system of self-development as taught by Grandmaster Huang.
Dr. Hoffman is a 65th generation student and direct disciple of Grand Master Huang Chien-Liang and began training in 1999. He has competed in push hands and 2 man Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) sets and recently received first place in the 2-man set competition in International competition.
Dr. Hoffman is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland School of Dentistry and the Baltimore School of Massage. Dr. Hoffman retired as a dentist in 2004 and now practices as a licensed massage therapist.
Dr. Hoffman's martial arts current personal goals are to continue to develop the internal benefits of Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) and the external application skills of Xing Yi Quan.
Shi Fu Matteson started his internal martial arts training under Grandmaster Huang in 2005. He received a Tien Shan Pai Black Sash in Internal Arts and has earned a 2nd Tuan under the certification standards of The World Kuo Shu Federation (TWKSF). At the United States Kuo Shu Federation (USKSF) International Tournament, he has been responsible for security as well as design and procurement of tournament merchandise. He is a certified level A judge and a TWSKF level B referee.
For several years, Shi Fu Matteson has enjoyed competing in local, national and international tournaments where he has won numerous 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals in forms, weapons, two-person sets and push-hands. He has been awarded the Tien Shan Pai Spirit Award twice.
Shi Fu Matteson earned a Bachelors of Science degree from Bloomsburg University, PA in 1971 and earned a Masters of Education degree from Loyola College of Maryland in 1976. Since 1979, he has been a free-lance artist and illustrator.
Shi Fu Matteson's interest and love remains Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) and its subtleties and applications. His teaching goal is to explore the nuances of the art from numerous perspectives.
Shi Fu Nair is a 65th Generation student of Tien Shan Pai and a direct disciple of Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang. He started his Tien Shan Pai training in 1992 and began studying directly under Grandmaster Huang in 1997. Shi Fu Nair currently holds a 4th degree Black Sash in Tien Shan Pai under Grandmaster Huang. A national, international and World level champion, Shi Fu Nair has placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in forms, two-man set events at national and international Chinese martial arts tournaments. He was awarded 1st place in empty hand two-person sets, 2nd place in weapon two-person sets, 2nd place in Advanced Northern empty hand form, and 2nd place in Advanced Other Weapons at the 2nd World Kuo Shu Championship Tournament, held by The World Kuo Shu Federation (TWKSF) in 2006 in Singapore. In 2009, he competed in Lei Tai Full Contact fighting at the US Kuo Shu International Championship Tournament and took 1st place in the Men's Heavy C weight division. This earned him a spot on the U.S. National Lei Tai Team for the 3rd World Kuo Shu Tournament in Germany, as well as a nomination for USKSF 2009 Lei Tai Male Competitor of the Year.
Shi Fu Nair earned a Bachelors degree from University of Maryland, College Park and an MBA in project management. He currently works in global sourcing and project management for a large electronics and engineering firm.
Shi Fu Nair's training interests are in external forms and traditional full contact fighting methods.
Shi Fu Pai is a 65th generation student of Tien Shan Pai, and a direct disciple of Grandmaster Huang Chien-Liang. He started training under Grandmaster Huang in 2003, and is a third degree black sash.
Shi Fu Pai is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, and works as a defense contractor providing physics based analysis for the Navy.
Shi Fu Pai's training interests are in external kung fu forms, weapon fighting, and Qin Na.
Shi Fu Saunders is a 65th Generation student of Tien Shan Pai and a direct disciple of Grandmaster Huang, Chien-Liang. He started his training under Grandmaster Huang in 1990. Shi Fu Saunders served as the Program Director at the U.S. Kuo Shu Academy from 2006 to 2010.
He is a 3rd degree Black Sash in Tien Shan Pai under Grandmaster Huang and a 6th degree Black Sash under the certification standards of The World Kuo Shu Federation (TWKSF). Shi Fu Saunders is certified by the TWKSF as an International Referee - Level A. As an International Referee, Shi-Fu Saunders has performed the duties of Scoring Judge and Executive Referee at USKSF International Tournaments and the TWKSF 3rd World Tournament held in Ulm, Germany in 2009.
Shi Fu Saunders served as the Tournament Director for the 2008 and 2010 United States Kuo Shu Federation (USKSF) International Tournaments and as Assistant Director for the 2006 and 2011-2014 USKSF International Tournaments. Shi Fu Saunders has also served in other areas related to the organization of USKSF International Tournaments including External Director, Transportation Director, and Hospitality Director.
An accomplished competitor, Shi Fu Saunders has placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in various forms and two-person set events at national and international Chinese martial arts tournaments. Shi Fu Saunders has performed in several Charity Demonstrations including a special benefit to support the families of victims of the September 11, 2001 relief efforts, and Demonstrations to support the Maryland Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the St. Jude's Children's Research Center, and the Children's Home of Baltimore. Shi Fu Saunders has been recognized for his efforts to promote Kuo Shu through citations given by Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, Maryland Governor and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith. Shi Fu Saunders has also been recognized at the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards ceremony.
Shi Fu Saunders is a graduate of the University of Delaware, is a licensed Professional Engineer, and works as a Project Manager on infrastructure projects for a multi-disciplinary engineering firm. He has two daughters, both whom have studied at the U.S. Kuo Shu Academy.
Shi Fu Saunders' personal training has emphasized Tien Shan Pai kung fu and Xingyiquan training. As an instructor, his objective is to help his students achieve their goals and push the boundaries of their potential as martial artists. In recent years, Shi-Fu Saunders has placed considerable emphasis on assisting the promotion of the United States Kuo Shu Federation and currently holds the position of Special Assistant to the President (Huang, Chien-Liang).
Tien Shan Pai is the style of Kung Fu we teach. It originates from the mountains of Northwestern China and is known for its effective fighting style but features graceful empty-hand and weapons forms.
Xing Yi Quan (Hsing I) teaches direct and aggressive techniques that both block and counterattack simultaneously. The training methods include standing meditation, practice of the five elements fists, and forms that are evocative of the movements of twelve animals. As in the Tai Ji Quan (Tai Chi Chuan) and Kung Fu programs, our Xing Yi Quan program includes instruction in the traditional Chinese weapons of broadsword, straight sword, long staff and spear. Due to students' interest, US Kuo Shu Academy now offers a class focusing exclusively on Xing Yi. Our Xing Yi Quan program includes the following elements: